Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1427300
10 COMMERCIAL 11.11.2021 These articles are part of a content series called Ewropej. This is a multi-newsroom initiative part-funded by the European Parliament to bring the work of the EP closer to the citizens of Malta and keep them informed about matters that affect their daily lives. These articles reflect only the authors' view. The European Parliament is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains. THE European Parliament's first of- ficial delegation to Taiwan said last week the diplomatically isolated is- land is not alone and called for bolder actions to strengthen EU-Taiwan ties as Taipei faces rising pressure from Beijing. Taiwan, which does not have formal diplomatic ties with any European na- tions except tiny Vatican City, is keen to deepen relations with members of the European Union. The visit comes at a time when Chi- na has ramped up military pressure, including repeated missions by Chi- nese warplanes near democratic Tai- wan, which Beijing claims as its own and has not ruled out taking by force. read more "We came here with a very simple, very clear message: You are not alone. Europe is standing with you," Rapha- el Glucksmann, a French member of the European Parliament, told Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in a meeting broadcast live on Facebook. "Our visit should be considered as an important first step," said Glucks- mann, who is leading the delegation. "But next we need a very concrete agenda of high-level meetings and high-level concrete steps together to build a much stronger EU-Taiwan partnership." The three-day visit, organised by a committee of the European Parlia- ment on foreign interference in demo- cratic processes, will include exchang- es with Taiwanese officials on threats such as disinformation and cyber at- tacks. Tsai has warned of increasing Chi- nese efforts to gain influence in Tai- wan, asking security agencies to coun- ter infiltration efforts. "We hope to establish a democratic alliance against disinformation," Tsai told the delegation in the Presidential Office. "We believe Taiwan and the EU can certainly continue strengthening our partnership in all domains." Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu made a rare trip to Europe last month that angered Beijing, which warned the host countries against un- dermining relations with China. Fearing retaliation from Beijing, most countries are unwilling to host senior Taiwanese ministers or send high-level officials to the island. Last month, the European Parlia- ment adopted a non-binding resolu- tion to deepen ties with Taiwan, with steps such as looking into an invest- ment agreement. Chinese foreign ministry spokesper- son Wang Wenbin condemned the meeting during a daily press briefing in Beijing on Wednesday. "We urge the European side to cor- rect its mistakes and not send any wrong signals to Taiwan separatist forces, otherwise it will harm Chi- na-EU relations," he told reporters. 'You are not alone': EU Parliament delegation tells Taiwan on first official visit Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen and Raphael Glucksmann, head of the European Parliament's special committee on foreign interference, attend a meeting in Taipei "We came here with a very simple, very clear message: You are not alone. Europe is standing with you."